Computer Software - Black ICE

A long while back, William Gibson came up with the term "ICE" (Intrusion Countermeasures Electronics) for anti-hacking software. He also came up with the term "Black ICE," specifically for the kind of illegal software that directly attacks the hacker.

How could you come up with something like Black ICE in a Traveller game?
 
Black ICE requires a direct neural link between the hacker and the computer; otherwise the ICE could, at worst, overload the hacker's computer, but not harm the hacker.

One way to do this is: if the hacker has a neural link, and he fails his Computer roll against a system with Black ICE, he'll take damage (say, 1d6); if he fails with an Effect of -4 or worse, he suffers 4d6 damage. Black ICE should probably be Rating 6 cost four times as much as Security/3.
 
Golan2072 said:
Black ICE requires a direct neural link between the hacker and the computer; otherwise the ICE could, at worst, overload the hacker's computer, but not harm the hacker.

One way to do this is: if the hacker has a neural link, and he fails his Computer roll against a system with Black ICE, he'll take damage (say, 1d6); if he fails with an Effect of -4 or worse, he suffers 4d6 damage. Black ICE should probably be Rating 6 cost four times as much as Security/3.

You might be able to have an Black ICE like effect without a neural link, if the target was subject to either visual or audio hypnotic type events... but the character would get some kind of INT check with modifiers
 
One additional thought though...

Make the damage come off of Intelligence or Education ... That might fit better with the "Black ICE" being so much more dangerous...

Likewise some might cause some hallucinations or Psychosis (sic)

"Ohh _physically_ he's fine... Mentally he's ... well... He's not all there"

Take care

E. Herdan
 
Black Ice that effects the visual that the hacker sees.

This could be as simple as the refresh rate changing until it causes a seizure in the hacker. (This can actually happen in real life the refresh rate part causing seizures)

or

The black ice is like a dedicated blood hound. It does not attack the hacker directly (like in the books or movies), instead it seeks the hacker out and

Changes the individuals credit rating, messes with utilities, makes traffic lights change at the wrong time, sends threats to law enforcement as if it was the hacker, plays off like a friend and lures them to their death. Etc.
This option would be a long term effect but could be quite interesting to nasty over time.

Dave Chase
 
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